Drivers are forced to turn around Tuesday near an entrance to Parke 33 Apartment Homes because the road has been closed to two-way traffic on Old Combee Road near the intersection of State Road 33 in North Lakeland. Barriers were recently put in place preventing drivers from entering and exiting the Parke 33 apartment complex from Old Combee Road.

Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 1:11 a.m.

LAKELAND | A city road-widening project in North Lakeland has driven motorists to confusion and anger and unleashed a barrage of traffic citations from Lakeland police.

On Thursday and Friday, LPD traffic officers spent nine hours handing out more than $30,000 worth of citations to 187 drivers near a construction zone on Old Combee Road. And more drivers have been cited since.

The problem begins when drivers turn off Socrum Loop Road onto Old Combee Road. Drivers interviewed by The Ledger said signs warning of a road closure ahead for eastbound traffic are poorly placed. A single orange sign facing traffic on Old Combee warns of the closure while other caution signs run parallel to the road. Drivers passing by say they are hard to see.

Soon after crossing the Interstate 4 overpass, eastbound drivers are abruptly confronted by a barricaded lane in front of the entrance to the Parke 33 Apartments. Westbound traffic is not affected.

Kathy Robertson's daughter was among the drivers who were ticketed.

"My daughter was coming out of (the Plantation Square) Publix and noticed a road-closed sign that was off the road in the grass as if it was put aside and not being used," she said. "But it also said ‘local traffic only' so she didn't assume it pertained to her.

"She got down as far as she could go and then ended up getting trapped. She was stuck there. She didn't know which way to go," Robertson said.

Her daughter, Kurarnda Robertson, 23, found the entrance to the apartment complex to her right had been blocked and vehicles were backing up behind her.

Her mother said Kuranda Robertson drove past the barricade when there was a break in westbound traffic, thinking there might be a flagman ahead directing traffic. Instead, she was confronted by five motorcycle officers, and given a $164 ticket for violating a traffic control device.

A woman who asked not to be identified because she has family ties to law enforcement said she had a similar experience.

"When I got to the barricade, the entrance was not blocked at the apartment complex so I decided to turn in around the turnabout. I saw some police officers and drove over to ask what I was supposed to do," she said.

"I rolled down my window to ask and he said, ‘Pull over and give me your license and registration.' I told him I just wanted to ask a question and he said I could tell that to the court."

She also was issued a $164 ticket for violation of a traffic control device.

Lt. Al Wilson, the officer in charge of special operations, including traffic, for the Police Department, said police went to the site after receiving numerous complaints from construction workers and the apartment complex.

"All we're trying to do is create a safer environment for everyone up there, the motorists, the apartment complex and the construction workers," Wilson said.

Wilson said he doesn't accept the excuse that the signs were badly placed.

"There is a sign in the middle of the road that's sitting on a pedestal that says road closed," he said. "The majority of the citations written were for people driving around the barricade (sign)."

One LPD officer said all the tickets written were for going around the sign or cutting through the apartment complex.

Greg James, the city assistant public works director, said the decision not to close off the road completely was made because it would have affected response times for the Fire Department. He said the road work should be completed next week.

James said he hadn't heard about the issues the signs have caused.

"That concerns me when you've got cars making U-turns in a continuous traffic flow," he said. "I'm going to talk to the contractor and see if we can implement some changes."

LPD Capt. John Thomason agrees.

"They can always re-evaluate what they are doing," Thomason said. "I teach at a couple of universities and if I'm giving a test and 99 percent of the class blows a question, maybe that material wasn't covered as well as I thought. Is this due to ineffective signage? Is there something we can do more effectively?"

On Tuesday afternoon, a semi-truck was stuck in front of the barricade, flashing its lights as drivers weaved around trying to figure out where to go.

<p>LAKELAND | A city road-widening project in North Lakeland has driven motorists to confusion and anger and unleashed a barrage of traffic citations from Lakeland police. </p><p>On Thursday and Friday, LPD traffic officers spent nine hours handing out more than $30,000 worth of citations to 187 drivers near a construction zone on Old Combee Road. And more drivers have been cited since. </p><p>The problem begins when drivers turn off Socrum Loop Road onto Old Combee Road. Drivers interviewed by The Ledger said signs warning of a road closure ahead for eastbound traffic are poorly placed. A single orange sign facing traffic on Old Combee warns of the closure while other caution signs run parallel to the road. Drivers passing by say they are hard to see. </p><p>Soon after crossing the Interstate 4 overpass, eastbound drivers are abruptly confronted by a barricaded lane in front of the entrance to the Parke 33 Apartments. Westbound traffic is not affected. </p><p>Kathy Robertson's daughter was among the drivers who were ticketed.</p><p>"My daughter was coming out of (the Plantation Square) Publix and noticed a road-closed sign that was off the road in the grass as if it was put aside and not being used," she said. "But it also said 'local traffic only' so she didn't assume it pertained to her.</p><p>"She got down as far as she could go and then ended up getting trapped. She was stuck there. She didn't know which way to go," Robertson said.</p><p>Her daughter, Kurarnda Robertson, 23, found the entrance to the apartment complex to her right had been blocked and vehicles were backing up behind her. </p><p>Her mother said Kuranda Robertson drove past the barricade when there was a break in westbound traffic, thinking there might be a flagman ahead directing traffic. Instead, she was confronted by five motorcycle officers, and given a $164 ticket for violating a traffic control device. </p><p>A woman who asked not to be identified because she has family ties to law enforcement said she had a similar experience. </p><p>"When I got to the barricade, the entrance was not blocked at the apartment complex so I decided to turn in around the turnabout. I saw some police officers and drove over to ask what I was supposed to do," she said. </p><p>"I rolled down my window to ask and he said, 'Pull over and give me your license and registration.' I told him I just wanted to ask a question and he said I could tell that to the court."</p><p>She also was issued a $164 ticket for violation of a traffic control device.</p><p>Lt. Al Wilson, the officer in charge of special operations, including traffic, for the Police Department, said police went to the site after receiving numerous complaints from construction workers and the apartment complex.</p><p>"All we're trying to do is create a safer environment for everyone up there, the motorists, the apartment complex and the construction workers," Wilson said. </p><p>Wilson said he doesn't accept the excuse that the signs were badly placed. </p><p>"There is a sign in the middle of the road that's sitting on a pedestal that says road closed," he said. "The majority of the citations written were for people driving around the barricade (sign)."</p><p>One LPD officer said all the tickets written were for going around the sign or cutting through the apartment complex. </p><p>Greg James, the city assistant public works director, said the decision not to close off the road completely was made because it would have affected response times for the Fire Department. He said the road work should be completed next week.</p><p>James said he hadn't heard about the issues the signs have caused. </p><p>"That concerns me when you've got cars making U-turns in a continuous traffic flow," he said. "I'm going to talk to the contractor and see if we can implement some changes."</p><p>LPD Capt. John Thomason agrees. </p><p>"They can always re-evaluate what they are doing," Thomason said. "I teach at a couple of universities and if I'm giving a test and 99 percent of the class blows a question, maybe that material wasn't covered as well as I thought. Is this due to ineffective signage? Is there something we can do more effectively?"</p><p>On Tuesday afternoon, a semi-truck was stuck in front of the barricade, flashing its lights as drivers weaved around trying to figure out where to go. </p><p>"I've had 10 cars go around me," the driver said. "I can't do anything."</p><p>Officer Scott Hutton arrived to assist the truck driver with a U-turn — turning on the flashing lights and siren of his motorcycle as the big rig crawled to freedom. The driver wasn't ticketed.</p><p>Soon after, Hutton stood behind the barricade, his motorcycle in plain view.</p><p>A young man pulled up to the barricade looking confused. </p><p>When he spotted Hutton, he slowly rounded the barricade and rolled down his window, saying something to the effect of "I'm messed up here, man. Where do I go?"</p><p>Hutton pointed to the shoulder of the road.</p><p>The man left with a $164 citation.</p>